This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42549157
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Trump threatens stop to Palestinian aid over Jerusalem row | Trump threatens stop to Palestinian aid over Jerusalem row |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US may stop aid payments to Palestinians who are "no longer willing to talk peace", President Trump said. | |
On Twitter, Mr Trump said the United States received "no appreciation or respect" in return for its aid. | On Twitter, Mr Trump said the United States received "no appreciation or respect" in return for its aid. |
He also said his controversial recognition of the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital took the hugely divisive issue "off the table" for new peace talks. | He also said his controversial recognition of the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital took the hugely divisive issue "off the table" for new peace talks. |
Palestinians had said the move showed the US could not be a neutral broker. | Palestinians had said the move showed the US could not be a neutral broker. |
Soon after Washington's decision was announced in December, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not accept any US peace plan for the Middle East. | |
The decision on Jerusalem was also overwhelmingly condemned at the United Nations, where 128 countries voted against Mr Trump's fulfilment of a campaign promise. | |
What did President Trump say? | What did President Trump say? |
The US President was tweeting a follow-up to earlier comments about aid payments to Pakistan, in which he said the US has received only "lies and deceit" in exchange for billions of dollars in aid. | The US President was tweeting a follow-up to earlier comments about aid payments to Pakistan, in which he said the US has received only "lies and deceit" in exchange for billions of dollars in aid. |
What have the Palestinians said to anger the US? | What have the Palestinians said to anger the US? |
Jerusalem is one of the world's most contested sites. | Jerusalem is one of the world's most contested sites. |
Israel claims the whole of the city as its capital. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. | Israel claims the whole of the city as its capital. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. |
Mr Trump, however, decided to formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite being warned it could cause unrest in the region. | Mr Trump, however, decided to formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite being warned it could cause unrest in the region. |
He also said he would move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, where all other nations have their consulates. | He also said he would move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, where all other nations have their consulates. |
For the Palestinians, Mr Abbas said: "The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process." | |
He also called Jerusalem the "eternal capital of the state of Palestine". | He also called Jerusalem the "eternal capital of the state of Palestine". |
What kind of aid does the US send to Palestinians? | What kind of aid does the US send to Palestinians? |
Mr Trump's tweets followed remarks from Nikki Haley, the US envoy to the United Nations, in which she said the US would stop contributing to the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees. | Mr Trump's tweets followed remarks from Nikki Haley, the US envoy to the United Nations, in which she said the US would stop contributing to the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees. |
The agency runs education, health, and social programmes. The United States is its largest governmental donor, handing over almost $370m (£270m) in 2016. | The agency runs education, health, and social programmes. The United States is its largest governmental donor, handing over almost $370m (£270m) in 2016. |
Speaking at a news conference, Ms Haley said: "The President has basically said that he doesn't want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians are agreeing to come back to the negotiation table." | Speaking at a news conference, Ms Haley said: "The President has basically said that he doesn't want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians are agreeing to come back to the negotiation table." |
She said the UN's vote to condemn Mr Trump's Jerusalem decision was "not helpful to the situation". | She said the UN's vote to condemn Mr Trump's Jerusalem decision was "not helpful to the situation". |
"The Palestinians now have to show their will that they want to come to the table. As of now, they're not coming to the table but they asked for aid. | "The Palestinians now have to show their will that they want to come to the table. As of now, they're not coming to the table but they asked for aid. |
"We're not giving the aid, we're going to make sure that they come to the table," she said. | "We're not giving the aid, we're going to make sure that they come to the table," she said. |
The withdrawal of aid is likely to have a significant impact on the UN agency's work, as the US contributes almost 30% of its overall funding. | The withdrawal of aid is likely to have a significant impact on the UN agency's work, as the US contributes almost 30% of its overall funding. |
In 2016, the second-largest donor, the European Union, donated less than half as much as the US. | In 2016, the second-largest donor, the European Union, donated less than half as much as the US. |